Hot Hatch Fever

Well this is something new that I have not ever done or thought that I would ever do. But lets see where it goes. The first of Cars with Cas is about my first hot hatch. And what a hatch it was! My 2003 Honda civic in Black. With a really pokey and amazing 1.6 Vtec engine giving out a solid 81 KW (109 BHP). And of course to finish it off a wonderful manual gearbox. (more on the box later on). It all started when I moved to UK and was looking for a first UK car. Options were slim since I was under 25 with no bonuses on my name. Was looking about and found this little hot hatch. Seemed a bit of a rice car for me as it does for most people. Car community often assumes civics are for street hooligans and kids who just want something cheap and quick to do accidents with. It probably is because of not so tasteful mods being done to them. Could be just a bad stereotype and such I was following it my self. But decided to give it a go hoping it would give me some driving joy. And boy did it not let me down. To this day it is still the most fun I have had in a car. When I went to see the little black nugget I wasn't hoping much. Of course a 15 year old car cant do much can it? with a 1.6 engine. At that time the smallest engine car I had was my BMW with 2.5. Test drive gave me bunch of joy and I was on my way. Have to say the driving position and the gear leaver position being quiet high is truly comfortable and unexpectedly nice to drive. Cheap insurance and a cheap car meant that I was capable of just using and abusing the heck out of it, which I did. Steering sensitivity and road feel is unparalleled. I never knew what a hot hatch was and now I was feeling it. High revving engine was going so nice and low weight and plenty of grip with decent tires I was smashing it around the roundabouts. Being the hooligan that most from car communities hate. I just couldn't drive it slow. The little nugget was asking to be driven hard and fast. So I had to oblige. That's where the fever came from. I really cant comprehend how amazing the car was done. I just couldn't believe the fun I was having. Each trip to the store or just for some fish and chips was pure fun. Any money that I had to spend on it mean nothing. I had it for almost a year when a gearbox went. I bought it with some strange noises and they started over time to increase. It was neglect on my part and part due to it being so reliable. To be a bit more serious the car was great in and out. Reliable and pretty comfortable. Of course not much outside noise cancellation but its an Japanese nugget from 2000s. I really started looking at hot hatches from a different point of view after that. I want one and I want to try them all. After experience with my Civic other cars have been added to my "To Drive" list such as Golf GTI's or Pugs 205. All the Renault Clio and other hot hatches available. Even the new ones I wanna give them a go. Knowing full well that the old 90's motors were so much better driver cars. Bet biased and all. Before this little Honda I thought that all I want is a decent 4 door sedan as 5 series BMW or Merc E class. It all changed and opened my views. More people in car communities should give a go for different types of cars to see how it is truly. Each car has individual character and charisma and can have its own charm.

Japanese simplicity and everything being in the right place, comfortable to use makes it such and amazing piece of engineering, whilst some manufacturers overdo things its the simplicity that makes this little car the joy it really is. Thank you little black Civic, was really fun.